The Role of Science in the 21st Century

“Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world. Science is the highest personification of the nation because that nation will remain the first which carries the furthest the works of thought and intelligence.” – Louis Pasteur

With a dramatically changing media environment, challenging economic and social climates, shifting relationships between citizens and policy makers and an evolving understanding of democracy, science stands as a ready tool to help combat modern difficulties. With all of these changes, the need for intersectoral dialogue is more important than ever. How can science help all of these individual societal actors and vice versa? What should the role of science be in the 21st century?

Atomium-EISMD believes that there is a need to rethink the role of science in the 21st century. Questions around the changing environment of knowledge production, collaboration patterns, and the necessary changes of the institutional structures are just some of the issues assessed by Atomium-EISMD.